Dolphins Skip the Boo-Hoo and Ballyhoo the Charger Offense

And you thought the Charger offense was prolific last year. Or the year before.

It’s time to check out the 1986 edition.

Superlatives describing the Chargers’ offensive performance Sunday were flying around the Dolphin locker room as quickly as Dan Fouts moved his team up and down the field.

“I haven’t seen another team in the NFL that has so many weapons,” Miami Coach Don Shula said. “They’re doing more than they’ve ever done.”

And the Chargers have led the National Football League in total offense six of the last seven years.

Judging by their showing in a 50-28 season-opening victory against the Dolphins Sunday, the 1986 Charger offense might be their best yet.

Fouts & Co. gained 500 yards (276 passing and 224 on the ground), controlled the ball for 38 minutes 50 seconds, did not commit a turnover and scored on 9 of 12 possessions.

“Their offense is unbelievable,” said Dolphin quarterback Dan Marino, who is quite familiar with high-scoring offenses.

“It was embarrassing and frustrating at times,” said Dolphin linebacker Bob Brudzinski, a member of a defense that was only slightly better than the Chargers’ unit last year. Miami ranked No. 23 and the Chargers were last (28th) in 1985.

“We knew they’d make some plays on us,” Brudzinski said, “but we didn’t think they’d make as many as they did.

“They are potent. And explosive. They have so many weapons--three running backs, two good tight ends, good wide receivers and Fouts at quarterback. They block, run well, can catch--and Fouts ties everything together so well.”

Dolphin linebacker Hugh Green, who spent the afternoon chasing Charger backs all over the field, echoed similar sentiments.

“They have individual talent that will be ranked throughout the leaders the rest of the year,” Green said.

Said Miami linebacker Mark Brown: “We were confused out there. We got our hiners kicked.”

The 50 points was the most ever scored against a Dolphin team coached by Don Shula, who started his successful reign in Miami in 1970. The previous mark was 45 points, scored by Baltimore in 1977 and the Raiders in 1984.

Shula, who coached the Baltimore Colts from 1963 to 1969, said he couldn’t remember when or if an opposing club had ever scored more points against a professional team he had coached.

No doubt, Shula will try to forget Sunday’s game in a hurry.

“We’ve got to believe that we’re better than we showed today,” Shula said. “We came out with high hopes and expectations. But we got it all knocked down by the Chargers.”

It was knocked down by an explosive Charger offense backed by a revamped defense that also earned praise from the Dolphins.

“The new Charger defense is much more aggressive than in the past,” Shula said. “We made some plays on them, but they forced some mistakes.”

And the Chargers converted. Again and again.

“They have a great offense,” Green said. “Look at them from now until the end of the year. They’ll continue to do that.”